Express Canteen’s partnership paves way for Excelsior to shine in Virginia

KINGSTON:

A landmark partnership between Express Canteen and Excelsior High School has created a historic platform that could lead to sport and academic opportunities for the Manning Cup champions.

The school, boosted by Express Canteen's sponsorship, left the island on Tuesday to participate in a Combine, and the Jefferson Cup Football Tournament, in Virginia, United States.

It is the first time that a Jamaican school is participating in the Jefferson Cup, which brings together 400 teams and over 200 scouts recruiting for university scholarships.

The CEO of Express Canteen Services Limited, Ryan Foster, says their commitment is grounded in their belief of "giving back", and facilitating academic and educational success for life beyond the playing field.

"One of the mantra of Express Canteen is to continuously give back for youth development through sport and, of course, Excelsior are the Manning Cup and all-island Olivier Shield champions. So when they reached out to me to support this overseas venture for the process of showcasing the talent of Jamaican schoolboy footballers, to ensure that they get an opportunity to showcase their talents for scholarship purposes, it was an easy decision," said Foster, whose business runs the Mountain View Avenue-based institution's concessionaire.

INVOLVEMENT

He noted an involvement with several players on the team, who are aligned with Cavalier Soccer Club - the reigning Jamaica Premier League champions - of which he is the chairman.

"One of the things I've admired about them over the past couple of years, being in the space myself, is that they would have had a unit, a family unit, and Express is a family business. The camaraderie and unity that I see within these boys has garnered the Manning Cup, and those values are also showcasing Excelsior," he said.

The Combine took place on Thursday, while the Jefferson Cup is a three-day tournament that runs from March 27-29).

Excelsior High were invited to this tournament after recently winning the Adidas Cup in Virginia last year.

RECRUITMENT PLATFORM

Omar Stanley, a member of the coaching staff, highlighted the significance of the Jefferson Cup.

"We'll be the first-ever Jamaican team to participate in the Jefferson Cup, and it's a privilege and an honour that we can represent Jamaica and Excelsior and really showcase these boys on a larger platform," said Stanley.

He expressed gratitude to the sponsors for "opening doors to higher education".

"This is what we're about at Excelsior," he added. "We emphasise the education aspect of the boys. We're not just about having them playing football; we're preparing them for life after football, wanting to see that they become useful young men, so that they can contribute to the school environment, or even their own environment where they are from."

Jamar Ward, the goalkeeper, says they're ready to grab the opportunity.